Meet the Team
Welcome - we're so glad you’re here
At Three Pillars Training, our course tutors aren’t just teachers; we are practising counsellors, coaches and educators.
We care about your growth
Each of us brings real-world experience, a down-to-earth approach, and a shared belief that learning should feel encouraging, inclusive and completely manageable alongside real life.
You’ll meet a team who’ve walked the path you’re about to walk - through gaining your counselling and/or coaching qualifications, completing your placement hours, going into private practice or agency work, listening deeply, learning so much about yourself and others and figuring out how to balance study with busy jobs and families.
We know the moments of self-doubt, the nervousness, the excitement, the breakthroughs… and we’re here to guide you through all of it.
Every tutor below brings their own strengths, style and expertise, but what we share is simple:
We want you to succeed, feel supported, and actually enjoy the life changing journey.
Scroll down to meet the people who’ll be cheering you on from day one.
Three Pillars Training Team
Sharon Williams
Company Director
Course TutorSharon retrained as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist following 12 years in the police service and runs her own private practice supporting emergency service workers, support staff and their families. Sharon created Three Pillars Training to help others achieve their career goals in their chosen profession from foundation to flourishing and fulfilment.
Amanda Robb
Course TutorAmanda retrained as a Counsellor to help her in her existing role which includes supporting and training people with hearing loss. Amanda has experience counselling a diverse range of adults and children particularly around bereavement and loss, and has experience working with neurodivergent clients.
Heather Dixon
Course TutorHeather retrained as a Counsellor alongside working full time in her current role as a senior English teacher at Lincoln College. Heather has provided counselling to teenage students at Lincoln College and adult clients through private practice. Heather is also an experienced counselling tutor.
Jo Johnson
Course TutorJo retrained as a Counsellor following her nursing career and now works as a Counsellor in trauma and palliative care. Jo has experience counselling adults and children through bereavement. Jo loves the outdoors and facilitates group and 1:1 sessions to help support her clients.
Sharon Williams
COMPANY DIRECTOR
COURSE TUTOR
Hello! I'm Sharon, a Counsellor and Psychotherapist.
I have my own private practice, Blue Light Counselling, where I offer support to UK emergency service workers, support staff and their families. I'm also a trained Coach which can help take people from the darker places, through to life changing, brighter outcomes.
After 12 years in the police service as a detective, I was medically retired after fracturing my spine. Coming back from that major setback was the hardest struggle of my life but one that inspired me to do what I do today. I have lived experience of mental ill health, poor support from the career that promised to look after me and my own experience of counselling saved my life.
I retrained and rebuilt my life but the common thread was always helping others through coaching, mentoring and training. I've been a tutor and assessor in police training, I've been an Approved Driving Instructor teaching learner drivers (scary) and training people to become driving instructors themselves.
I have seen thousands of people that I have been privileged to teach, go on to succeed in their lives, both personally and professionally and now I'm here to help support you.
VALUES
My personal values include honesty, fairness and resilience. I'm passionate about quality training and I know the effects of having a poor trainer who you can't trust has on your learning experience. What motivates me is seeing you succeed and become a better version of yourself through our life changing training courses.
QUALIFICATIONS
I'm trained to Level 5 Advanced Counselling Diploma, a Gold standard BWRT Practitioner, Level 4 Diploma in Coaching, Level 4 Diploma in Hypnotherapy, Level 7 in Leadership and Management and I'm currently studying at the Positive Psychology Guild on Neurodiversity and Inclusion. I have extensive experience working with complex trauma as a certified trauma specialist and I'm also qualified in working with survivors of sexual abuse.
I'm an Accredited Counsellor with the NCPS, a Registered Member of the BACP, an Associate Member of the ISPC, a Registered Practitioner Member of The International BWRT Institute, a Member of the Association for Coaches and a Member of the Chartered Management Institute.
INTERESTS
My personal interests are in the art of sacred geometry - it's my form of meditation and really helps me get in the flow state and switch off from the world. I also run a book group in Lincoln that meets up monthly as I'm a complete bookworm! I have a seven year old russian blue cat named Mika (not after the singer) and my close family are my absolute world.
I cannot wait to meet you here within the Three Pillars Community!
Amanda Robb
COURSE TUTOR
Hi, I’m Amanda, a Counsellor and Course Tutor
I’m experienced in working with both adults and children, focusing in the areas of bereavement and loss. I have also worked within The Children’s Bereavement Centre in Newark, and supported them at Summer Camp and other events such as their Daisy Campaign and Halloween. Recently, I completed a breathwork training course and I’m looking forward to using these skills in my work with clients.
Alongside counselling and tutoring, I am an assessor and a trainer for people with hearing loss, providing equipment and training to enable them to function more effectively at home, work, while studying, and socially. I also work with neurodiverse clients, showing them how to use technology to help them overcome issues with focus and concentration.
Ten years ago, after working for two international hearing aid manufacturers, with a lot of travel, I re-evaluated my work/life balance and decided to become a self-employed freelancer, to be more flexible around family life.
I decided to study counselling initially for personal development, to increase my knowledge and benefit my own relationships, alongside gaining a better insight into parenting, and to support my hearing loss clients. I enjoyed it immensely and quickly decided to continue my journey, with the ultimate goal of becoming a counsellor.
VALUES
People are my passion. I value kindness, honesty, loyalty and integrity over everything. I always try my best to live in the most straight forward manner, to say what I mean, and mean what I say – life experience has taught me the benefits of this ideology.
Knowing that I have been a support to a client in their time of need, or helped them overcome an issue which is causing them to ‘be stuck’, motivates me professionally and pushes me to strive to always be the best version of myself, in and out of a counselling situation.
QUALIFICATIONS
I am qualified to Level 4 in Counselling Skills, and currently finishing Level 5 Advanced Counselling Diploma. I am also studying Level 7 Management and Leadership. I am a member of the BACP and an Associate Member of the ISPC.
INTERESTS
Family time is very important to me – along with my husband and son, we have a crazy Hungarian Vizsla, who keeps us on our toes! I’m part of the executive team for Lincolnshire Scouts, and I volunteer at our local outdoor community swimming pool. Spending time with my friends and anything wellness orientated is guaranteed to make me happy.
I look forward to being part of your journey.
Heather Dixon
COURSE TUTOR
Hello I’m Heather, a Counsellor and Course Tutor
My journey into education started over 13 years ago. After spending several years at home raising my four children, I found myself wondering how to get back in to work. I retrained as a teacher in further education and have taught everything from confidence building and employability skills to functional skills in English and Maths, and today, I’m proud to say I’m a senior GCSE English Teacher. The sector has grown and evolved so much, and I’ve had the privilege of growing alongside it.
Throughout my teaching career, I’ve become acutely aware of how vital mental health is, not just for students, but for us as educators, too. As someone who’s been under constant pressure and seen firsthand the trauma many people carry, I know how important it is to have someone who listens and supports you.
That’s why, a few years ago, a friend suggested I train as a Counsellor. In 2019, I took the leap. After four years of personal growth and amazing support, I qualified, and now I’m able to help people as a Counsellor while still teaching.
I’ve also been fortunate to merge these two fields: I’ve worked as a Counselling Tutor and spent several months counselling students within Lincoln College. It’s been an incredible experience, and it’s taught me just how interconnected mental health and education really are.
VALUES
Fairness, kindness, and acceptance are core values I live by, both in my personal life and my work. I aim to support my clients, students, and colleagues in recognising their worth and embracing their individuality. Having faced my own mental health struggles during a tough period of marital breakdown, work pressure, and recovering from a serious car crash, I understand how important it is to have a safe space and someone who truly listens, standing alongside you as you regain your sense of self and your hope.
QUALIFICATIONS
I'm trained to Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and currently finishing studying Level 5 Advanced Counselling Diploma. I’m an associate member of the ISPC and a member of the NCPS. I have extensive experience working with survivors of abuse, people navigating grief, those with suicidal thoughts, and teenagers battling low self-esteem. I’ve also had the privilege of leading Level 3 and 4 Counselling students through their training and self-discovery. As a teacher, I’m qualified to Level 5 and have received training in Mental Health Awareness, Coaching and Resilience, Prevent, and Safeguarding.
INTERESTS
I have four fabulous children and what spare time I do have, I spend it reading books, walking, listening to podcasts and making time with friends and family for coffee and long chats.
I’m genuinely excited to be part of this fantastic team of tutors, and I’m eager to make a real difference in the lives of students who are starting out in this life-changing field.
Jo Johnson
COURSE TUTOR
Hi, I'm Jo, a Counsellor and Course Tutor
My background is in nursing and specialist public health nursing, I retrained as a counsellor in 2019. After a career break to bring up my small children.
For me moving from a career in nursing to counselling was an obvious choice. The aspects of nursing where I felt I made the most impact was building relationships with my patients and working holistically with them.
This was cemented in me when I experienced my own counselling after a traumatic time in my life, experiencing first hand being listened to in a non judgmental way and exploring my reactions to what was going on.
I bring a wealth of experience with me within palliative care and trauma counselling. Working with both adults and children. I not only work in a traditional 1:1 setting with clients, I am also a group facilitator and have been instrumental in setting up several peer support groups for those affected by grief and bereavement.
I have an interest in outdoor therapy, believing that being in nature can help with both mental and physical health. I also run groups and 1:1 sessions outdoors and am a member of Social and Therapeutic Horticulture for Palliative Care.
VALUES
My personal values are honesty and integrity and I have an interest in what makes someone who they are and why they behave the way they do.
I’m really excited to be joining the Three Pillars Community and journeying with you as you develop your own values and what makes you you.
QUALIFICATIONS
I’m trained to Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and currently finishing my Level 5 Advanced Counselling Diploma.
I hold a Level 2 certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health and qualifications in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.
My nursing qualifications include a Bachelors Degree in Children’s Nursing and a Masters in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing.
I'm an Accredited Counsellor with the NCPS, and an Associate Member of the ISPC.
INTERESTS
I live in North Devon with my two children and two dogs.
When I’m not working I enjoy walking on one of our beautiful Devon beaches or exploring Exmoor. I have a VW Campervan and enjoy travelling around the country, with my children, going to festivals and seeing live bands.
I look forward to meeting you as you join our Three Pillars Community.
Learning Experience Designed Around Your Life
Learning with us is interactive, supportive and varied. Our courses are available fully online or you can attend face to face sessions if you prefer (note the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is mostly face to face learning with a much smaller amount of online sessions too).
Here is what you can experience training with Three Pillars Training:
Live sessions filled with valuable discussions, reflection and skills practice.
Access to resources online: handouts, slides, podcasts, blogs, videos and book recommendations.
Ongoing tutor support via one-to-one tutorials.
24/7 online learner community for sharing insights and encouragement.
Adjustment options for those who learn differently or need extra support.
View Our Courses
Our counselling courses follow a clear, progressive pathway, allowing learning to deepen in a way that builds understanding, confidence and capability over time. Whether your aim is personal growth, enhanced employability or professional counselling training, this pathway offers clarity and structure at each stage, allowing informed decisions as you progress.
“Everything was explained clearly, and I finally felt like my learning style was understood.”
Level 3 Coaching
— Level 3 Coaching student
The Three Pillars of Support
We offer affordable counselling, coaching and supervision to our students as well as offering affordable counselling and coaching opportunities for anyone who is perhaps seeking support but unable to afford private services or are waiting on lengthy NHS waiting lists.